Mary Allen Hardison, a 101-year-old grandmother from Ogden, Utah, has officially been recognized as the “Oldest Female to Paraglide Tandem” — an achievement described Tuesday by Guinness World Records as a “celebration of the official start of spring and life rejuvenated.”

Hardison took up paragliding “on a whim,” as she did not want to be outdone by her 75-year-old son, Allen, who had recently pursued the sport as a hobby. “I didn’t want him to do something that I couldn’t do,” Hardison said. She chose to have her record-breaking accomplishment be part of her 101st birthday celebration, which was last September.

The trip was a tandem one, with paragliding instructor Kevin Hintze guiding the journey. He described Hardison as “hard-core.”

Guinness World Records

To the delight of onlookers, Mary Allen Hardison flies up, up and away.

Hardison seems to be known for her resolve. Her granddaughter, Diane Swain, told KSL-TV of Salt Lake City, “My initial reaction was, ‘No, you can’t let her.’ Then I thought, ‘No, I know my grandma well enough to know that if she wants to do it, she’s going to do it.’ ”

Hardison told TODAY.com that the paragliding itself was fun and her ride went smoothly. “You just go up, very slowly, just like an elevator,” she said. “While I was paragliding there was a little bump or two, not very much, not nearly as much as an airplane ... but life has its ups and downs, so I guess paragliding can have a little up and down too.”

She said she wasn’t at all afraid because she saw so many people go up, enjoy the experience and come down without incident.

The now-famous grandmother is new to adventure sports, unless you count riding all the rides at Disneyland, which she did at age 90. She said she doesn’t plan to take up any additional sports in her immediate future — but she confessed that she’d love to go down the 3,000-foot Alpine Slide at Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort.

Hardison’s life revolves around four generations of her family. She also keeps busy knitting caps for sick children and premature babies, as well as crocheting bandages for leopards in India.

She said she finds it “humorous” that so much has been made of her paragliding, but she hopes her achievement will encourage other people her age to get out and stay active. She encouraged the elderly to keep going and stay positive because, as she put it, “Friends don’t like a grumpy person.”

Guinness World Records 2012

Look through images of the biggest, fastest, longest, weirdest and wackiest record breakers awarded in 2011 and from the 2012 edition of Guinness World Records.

Longest wedding dress train
Romanian model Ema Dumitrescu, 17, poses with her champion dress during a successful attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest wedding dress train, in Bucharest, Romania, on March 20, 2012. The record-breaking train measures more than 9,022 feet. Ten people worked for 100 days to finish it.
(EPA, Reuters)
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Most wine bottles uncorked simultaneously

More than 300 chefs and sommeliers popped their corks in Las Vegas on Feb. 29, 2012, setting the Guinness World Record for most wine bottles uncorked at once.
(Jason Schmidt via Guinness World)
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World's shortest living man, ever

Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Dangi poses with his certificates after being declared the world's shortest living man and shortest man ever by the Guinness Book of Records at a ceremony in Katmandu, Nepal, on Feb. 26, 2012. The 72-year-old man was measured at just 21.5 tall, snatching the title from Junrey Balawing of the Philippines, who is 23.5 inches.
(Niranjan Shrestha / AP)
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Oldest twins

Guinness World Records has confirmed that Edith Ritchie and Evelyn “Evie” Middleton, born November 15, 1909, are the world’s oldest living twins. The pair, who live together in a retirement home in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, celebrated their 102nd birthday in November 2011.

The twins, whose maiden name was Rennie, were born on a farm near Newburgh, Scotland more than a century ago when Edward VII was on the throne. Although not identical, their mother always dressed them exactly the same. After leaving school, they worked on farms before leaving to start their own families. Evelyn married William Middleton and has four children,12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Edith, married Nathaniel Ritchie and has four children, nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and three-great-great grandchildren.

The sisters have remained close throughout their life and now live together at Bonnyton House care home in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Neither sister has ever traveled outside of the UK. When asked her secret to a long life, Edith says “simple living, hard work and a good husband.”

“Edith and Evelyn are a remarkable pair – when they were born, the likes of Mark Twain and Florence Nightingale were still alive, and we had yet to conquer the South Pole,” said Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday. “They’ve clearly benefitted from good genes, and a solid life-long friendship that only twins can truly understand.”
(Guinness World Records)
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Most prolific dancing game high scorer

Iowa's Elizabeth Bolinger, AKA Kitty Mc Scratch, dances her way into history, earning her the record as the "Most Prolific Dancing Game High Scorer" with top scores in over 100 songs spanning across 'Just Dance' and 'Dance Central'. She's featured in the Guinness World Records 2012 Gamers Edition out now.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records)
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Smallest working dog

The smallest working dog is Lucy, a female micro Yorkshire Terrier, who measured 5.7 inches tall on Nov. 28, 2011, and is owned by Sally Leone Montufar of Absecon, New Jersey.
(Guinness World Records)
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Most Christmas lights on a property

David and Janean Richards celebrate being awarded the Guinness World Record for the most lights on a residential property. Their home in Forrest Act, Australia, is illuminated by 331,038 Christmas lights. David is reluctant to say how much the decorations cost, but all the money he receives from visitors goes to the charity ‘SIDS and Kids’ which he says helped his family out during a difficult period in 2002. Despite the four year investment in the light display, David said that he won't be doing it again next year, saying he hoped to be able to donate the lights to someone else who would continue to use them to raise money for charity.
(Guinness Book of World Records)
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World's shortest woman

Guinness World Records adjudicator Rob Molloy (R) and Indian doctor K. Sujatha (L) measure the height of Jyoti Amge, the world's shortest living woman, on her 18th birthday in the central Indian city of Nagpur on Dec. 16. Amge was certified by the Guinness World Records as the shortest woman in the world with an average measurement of 24.7 inches.
(Stringer/india / Reuters)
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Largest gathering of people dressed as leprechauns

The largest gathering of people dressed as leprechauns was 262 who gathering at Canal Theatre, Dublin. Just imagine the massive pot of gold they were hiding at the end of the rainbow!
(Maxwell Photography / Guinness World Records)
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Most number of people to fit into a pair of underpants

Participants in their underwear break a world record for the most number of people, 57, to fit into an oversized pair of underpants. They look like they're freezing standing in the Canary Wharf district of London, on Nov. 17, 2011.
(Matt Dunham / AP)
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Longest kissing chain

The longest kissing chain was achieved by 351 participants at an event organized by Jiayuan.com in Beijing, China. The smooches occurred Nov. 11, 2011.
(Guinness World Records)
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Most arrows caught by hand in two minutes while blindfolded

The most arrows caught by hand in two minutes – blindfolded is four. The record was achieved by Joe Alexander in Hamburg, Germany, on Nov.16.
(Alexander Pihuliak / Guinness World Records)
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Most bottle caps removed with the head

The most bottle caps removed with the head in one minute is 24. It was achieved by Ahmed Tafzi in Hamburg, Germany, on Nov. 16 as part of the Guinness World Records Day.
(Alexander Pihuliak / Guinness World Records)
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Most popping popcorn caught with both hands

The most popping popcorn caught with both hands in one minute is 26. It was achieved by Joe Alexander in Hamburg, Germany on Nov. 16.
(Alexander Pihuliak / Guinness World Records)
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Oldest yoga instructor

The oldest yoga teacher is Bernice Mary Bates, who was born on June 30, 1920, and remains an active yoga teacher in Florida at the age of 91. Shes was presented with the award in November 2011 as part of Guinness World Records Day 2011.
(Matt May / Guinness World Records)
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Largest Hula Hoop workout

The Largest Hula Hoop workout consisted of 221 students from Longleaf Elementary School in New Port Richey, Florida, USA on November 8, 2011 as part of Guinness World Records Day 2011. The participants danced for 1 minute and 44 seconds.
(Matt May / Guinness World Records)
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Largest Soul Train dance

The largest Soul Train dance consisted of 211 Berkeley High School students, staff and alumni in Berkeley, California, who all shook their groove thing down a dance line.
(RC Rivera / Guinness World Records)
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Longest chocolate bar

Mmmmm! Mirco Della Vecchia from Italy already holds the records for the largest chocolate sculpture and the tallest ice cream bowl. Now he's set a new record by making a 50-foot-long and almost 8-feet-wide chocolate bar. It's 15,000 pounds of deliciousness. The chocolate bar was officially measured inside the historic Salaborsa library in Bologna main Maggiore Square.
(Guinness World Records)
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Largest tea party

Three hundred and thirty-four people attended what's now officially recognized as the largest tea party, put on by the English Cream Tea Company in Essex. The record attempt raised funds for the Alzheimer’s Society and The Fragile X Society.
(Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records)
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Largest Zumba class

So much sweat! Guinness counted that 1,439 people attended a Zumba class in The Netherlands, making it officially the largest one in the world.
(Guinness World Records)
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Multiple record holder

Bridgette Jordan, 22, from Sandoval, Illinois, stands at 2 feet, 3 inches tall and is a multiple record holder, as she is also one of the shortest living siblings with her 20-year-old brother Brad.
(Gary Parker / Guinness World Records)
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World's tallest living female dog

“Nova," an Illinois Great Dane, reaches the record height of 2 feet, 11.51 inches tall when standing, and weighs in at 160 pounds. She is seen here with her owner, Ann Suplee.
(Jeffery R. Werner / IncredibleFeatures.com)
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Most steps walked down by a dog facing forwards balancing a glass of water

The most steps walked down by a dog facing forwards while balancing a 5 oz glass of water is 10, achieved by Sweet Pea, an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie owned by Alex Rothacker from the U.S., at the Sport und Schau Show, Verden, Germany, on Jan. 5, 2008.
(Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records)
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Fastest time to enter a suitcase

The fastest time to enter a zipped suitcase is 5.43 seconds achieved by Leslie Tipton on Sept. 14, 2009 in New York on the "LIVE! with Regis & Kelly" show.
(John Wright / Guinness World Records)
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Most needles inserted into the head

The most needles on the head is 2,009 and was achieved by Wei Shengchu of China on the set of "Lo Show dei Record," in Milan, Italy, on April 11th, 2009.
(Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records)
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World's longest career in theater

Veteran Israeli actress Hanna Maron speaks at an anti-racism gathering organized by a youth movement in Tel Aviv, Israel. Maron has added another title to her resume, the world's longest career in theater. Guinness World Records spokeswoman Anne-Lise Rouse said Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 that Maron's 83 years on stage qualify as the "longest career as a theatrical actress."
(Moti Milrod / AP)
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Most popular video of any kind

Bieber's "Baby" was the most popular video of any kind online, with 463,820,304 views as of Feb. 16th, 2011.
(Beawiharta / Reuters)
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Largest pizza commercially available

Available on the menu at Big Mama's and Papa's Pizzeria in Los Angeles, California, is an enormous four foot, six inch square pizza. Retailing at $199.99 plus tax, this mammoth meal can feed up to 100 people and can be ordered for delivery – as long as you give the pizzeria 24 hours' notice.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records)
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Most times to pass through a tennis racket

Australia's Skye Broberg passed her body through a tennis racket seven times in three minutes on the set of "Lo Show dei Record" in Rome, Italy, on Feb. 25th, 2010. Skye honed her serpentine skills as a circus act and street theater artist: as well as contortionist. One of her trademark specialities involves cramming her entire body into a small glass box.
(John Wright / Guinness World Records)
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Highest paid actor in a TV drama

Hugh Laurie of Fox’s "House" pulled in $400,000 per episode. According to Guinness, "House" was the Most-Watched TV Show (it was seen by 81.8 million people in 66 countries).
(Fox)
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World’s biggest whoopee cushion

The largest whoopee cushion measured 10 ft. in diameter. It was made by Steve Mesure from the U.K. on behalf of Street Vibe for an event at The Scoop in London on June 14th, 2008. Pictured are, Andrew Magill (left), Callum Magill (back), Katie Avis (right) & Elliot Avis (front).
(Mykel Nicolaou / Guinness World Records)
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Most live streams for a single event

The royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton this spring was one for the history books -- and the record books, too.
According to the latest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, the April 29 ceremony at Westminster Abbey was watched online by 72 million viewers.
(Lefteris Pitarakis / AP)
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Most pots thrown in 1 hour by an individual

Master potter Mark Byles from the U.K. came out on top in the pot-throwing contest held at the Ceramics South East Potters Market at the Friars, Aylesford, UK, on June 28th, 2009. Mark made 150 clay flowerpots in an hour, seeing off the challenge of nearest rival Mary Chapellhow, who managed 118 pots of her own in the allotted time.
(Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records)
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Heaviest competitive male bodybuilder

Daniele Seccarecci has achieved the title of heaviest competitive male bodybuilder. His competition weight is 297.62 lbs.. He was weighed on the set of "Lo Show dei Record" in Rome, Italy.
(Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records)
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Fastest bog snorkelling triathlon

England's Daniel and Natalie Bent are the world's top brother-sister bog snorkelling duo, with Daniel setting the men's triathlon record of two hours, 21 minutes and five seconds in July 2009 and Natalie setting the women's record of two hours, 45 minutes and 40 seconds in July 2010.
(Richard Bradbury / Guinness World Records)
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Longest ears on a dog

A Black and Tan Coonhound named Harbor has the longest ears of any living dog, with measurements of 12.25 inches for the left ear and 13.5 inches for the right.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records via AP)
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Largest violin

The Vogtland masters of violin- and bow-making in Germany created a violin that is 14 feet long and 4 feet 6 inches at its widest. This fantastic fiddle – plus its 17 feet bow – is seven times larger than the real thing. It takes three people to play a tune on it – one to press the strings and two to move the bow.
(Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records)
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Longest fingernails on a pair of female hands

The longest fingernails on a pair of female hands belong to Chris "The Dutchess" Walton and measure in at 10 feet 2 inches for her left hand and 9 feet 7 inches for her right hand for a total of 19 feet 9 inches as measured in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 21, 2011.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records)
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Most dogs skipping on the same rope

Who knew dogs could skip rope -- much less 13 of them at the same time. The record was achieved by Uchida Geinousha's "Super Wan Wan Circus" in Japan.
(Shinsuke Kamioka / Guinness World Records)
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Largest collection of penguins

Birgit Berends had amassed a collection of 11,062 different penguin-related items as of March 14th, 2011. From Germany, she started her collection at the age of 18 when she was inspired by the animated series Pingu. Her very first penguin dates back to her days in elementary school.
(Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records)
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Fastest wedding chapel

The fastest wedding chapel, nicknamed The Best Man, achieved a speed of 62 miles per hour in Shelbyville, Illinois. The mobile chapel includes stained-glass windows, pews, a pulpit, a pipe organ, a 1,000-watt stereo system and a three-tiered back porch with wrought-iron hand railings.
(David Torrence / Guinness World Records)
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Most piercings on a male

The most pierced man, Rolf Buchholz, has 453 studs and rings all over his body. Buchholz, from Dortmund, Germany, has – among others – 94 piercings in and around his lips, 25 in his eyebrows, eight in his nose and 278 in his genital area.
(Ranald Mackechnie / Guinness World Records)
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Youngest person to fly solo around the world

Barrington Irving, a 23-year-old aerospace student at Florida Memorial University, braved snow, storms and monsoon rains to circumnavigate the globe in his single-engine plane Inspiration, becoming the youngest person, and first black pilot, to achieve the feat. When Barrington found that nobody would lend him an aircraft for his journey, he had one built instead. The Columbia 400 he flew was made entirely from donated parts and assembled for free by the Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Company.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records)
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Largest chocolate bar

Workers and guests at the World's Finest Chocolate company in Chicago admire a 12,290 pound chocolate bar they created to set a new Guinness World Record on Sept. 13, 2011. The bar, which stands nearly 3 feet high and measures 21 feet long, beats the previous record chocolate bar by more than a ton.
(Scott Olson / Getty Images)
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Longest domestic cat (and longest domestic cat tail)

At 48.5 inches long, Stewie is the world's longest domestic cat. The 5-year-old Maine Coon is owned by Robin Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness and was measured on Aug. 28, 2010. He also has the longest domestic cat tail at 16.34 inches.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records)
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Longest tongue on a female

Chanel Tapper, pictured from California, has a tongue that measured 3.8 inches from tip to top lip, earning her the title of longest tongue on a female. The outright longest tongue record, though, is held by Stephen Taylor from the U.K. His lengthy licker measured 3.86 inches from tip to lip.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records)
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Largest collection of cows

Denise Tubangui, from the U.S., has a collection of 2,429 cow-related items as of March 2011. Denise started collecting in 1990 when she saw a cow figurine in her mother's kitchen. Her favorite item is the life-sized calf that her neighbors gave her as a present.
(Ryan Schude / Guinness World Records)
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Largest crocodile in captivity

Cassius, an Australian saltwater crocodile named after Cassius Clay, has been declared the largest crocodile in captivity by the Guinness Book of Records. Cassius measures an impressive 17 feet 11.75 inches and weighs more than 2,000 pounds.
(Brian Cassey / EPA)
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How did it all start?

On May 4, 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, then the managing director of the Guinness Brewery, went on a shooting party in North Slob in County Wexford, Ireland. He became involved in an argument over which was the fastest game bird in Europe, then later realized it was impossible to confirm in reference books. He then thought that a book supplying answers to such questions could be popular.

The first 197-page edition of the "Guinness Book of Records" was bound on Aug. 27, 1955, and went on to the top of the British best-seller list by Christmas. Over 400 million copies have sold since.
(Guinness World Records)
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